Rail-joint.



' UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

RAIL-JOINT.

Speecation of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1.905.

Application filed July 26, 1904I Serial No. 218,250.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it knownthat I, CHARLES J SAMUELSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State ofMissouri, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the erence, 1 lare rails of ordinary construction having outer and innerbase-anges 2 and 3, respectively. These rails rest upon a baseplate 4 of a {ish-plate 7,-said base-plate being considerably wider than the rails and has anv inwardly-extending liange 5 at its outer edge, which is adapted to lit snugly upon the baseflanges 2. This iange 5 and the base-plate 4 form a toe 6 at their point of conjunction, said toe being solid from end to end and provided with smooth unbroken surfaces. The

fish-plate 7 is formed integral with the upper edge of the flange 5 and' is adapted to iit snugly against the webs 8 of the rails. Apertures 9 are formed in the base-plate 4 at pointsremoved from the toe 6 a distance equal to the width of the bases of the rails. These apertures 9 are located some distance from the other edge of the base-plate 4, and when spikes 10 are driven therethrough the heads thereof are adapted to overlap the flanges 3 and hold them firmly in position upon the base-plate. As these spikes l0 are located at considerable distances from the two side edges of baseplate 4, it will be understood that they will hold said base-plate firmly in position upon the ties 11 without the necessity of employ.

ing any other fastening devices. For the purpose of rendering the joint doubly secure a desired number of spikes 12 may be driven into the ties along the toe 6, so as to cause the heads thereof to overlap the toe. vThese spikes, however, do not project into the toe, for the reason that the formation of recesses for such a purpose would considerably weaken the chair at this point. I employ another {ish-plate 13 at the other side of the webs 8,

said fish-plate being concaved, so as to permit it to be readily tightened on the rails p when the bolts 4 are secured therein. Both of the fish-plates bear against the rail-heads and base-lianges, so as to form supports for the heads. By providing fish-plate 13 with a concaved inner surface the same is rendered resilient and exerts a continual pressure upon the bolts after the same have been tightened, thereby preventing accidental unscrewing of the nuts thereon. l

The fish-plate 7 has a continuous flat inner and outer surface and is designed, with its other integral parts, to be arranged on one side of the web and on one upper side of the base and also` to extend across the under side of the base of the rail and project beyond one edge of the same. I also use a second fishplate 13, constructed of a straight length, so as to be mounted between the tread of the rail and base of the same. This plate 13 is made flat on one side and concave on the other side, and by means of bolts passing through openings of both of the fish-plates and through openings in the meeting ends of the rails the parts are held securely together.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- A rail-joint comprising rail-sections having the usualv tread-web and base-flange, a fishplate having a continuous fiat length of an even thickness, the upper end of the plate being wholly-arranged on one under surface of the tread of the rail, said plate also extending down flush with one side of the web and on one upper portion of the base-Hange and also across the bottom of the base of the rail and projecting beyond one edge of the same, a second plate mounted between the tread and base on the opposite side of the web and having a flat outer surface and an inner concave surface, and securing means passing through suitable openings of the two plates and web of the rail, and means for securing the base ofthe first-mentioned plate to road-bed, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. SAMUELSON.

Witnesses:

IKE CAULTER, Y EDITH SAMUELSON. 

